Information Architecture

At the office of the TTC (Toronto’s public transportation utility), I patiently wait in line to pay a fee. Finally arriving at an open kiosk, the clerk behind the glass prepares a document for me to sign.

The opening in the clerk’s window had a small arc-shaped hole.To pass the document through, the clerk substantially crumples it. I sign the form, mash it up again, and stuff it back through the arc.

This collateral documentation damage could have easily been avoided if the designer for this office had factored in the design of the paperwork used in the office. They might have developed a window opening with a wide slot at the bottom, like this:

Form really does follow function. Too bad more interior designers don’t do windows.

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